Jewelry system and method for expressing emotional state

ABSTRACT

A jewelry system and method for expressing a user&#39;s emotional state. The jewelry system includes a body member having various emotional states that are visible on its face. The jewelry system also includes a smart bead for selecting any one of the emotional states. The selected emotional state expresses the user&#39;s current emotional state to the general public. The jewelry system further includes one or more detachable charms namely an affected loved one charm and a cause of grief charm.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED INVENTIONS

This is a continuation-in-part application of and claims priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/714,301 filed Feb. 26, 2010, the entirety of which is herein incorporated by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth in this Specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to jewelry systems and more specifically to jewelry systems for expressing emotions to the general public.

Tragic situations (e.g. the passing of a family member) do occur and many people often grieve and express their emotions in any number of ways. Some people might place a ribbon on their front door. By so doing neighbors and people in the community might provide support by placing flowers at the griever's door.

Others might express their grief by placing a tattoo of the affected person on their bodies. However, for most people this might not be an acceptable way to express their grief. Other grievers yet might seek to join a support group. They can attend monthly support group meetings through which they can discuss and share their experiences with other grievers. The support group provides an outlet through which they can express their grief. However support groups are few and far between and are unavailable in many communities.

Consequently, many grievers have no outlet to express their emotions to the general public and can often become alienated from their communities. A griever that is grocery shopping might encounter a friendly grocery clerk that is unaware of the griever's personal situation. The griever may appear unresponsive and uncommunicative due to the griever's personal situation. The grocery clerk being unaware of the griever's situation might not understand the griever's reaction all of which might further alienate the griever. And so, many grievers can become more distant and less communicative since there is no way for them to share or express their grief or for the general public and community to provide reciprocal support.

There is a need to address one or more of the foregoing disadvantages of conventional systems and how the present invention meets this need.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Various aspects of a jewelry system can be found in exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

In a first embodiment, a user can utilize the jewelry system to express the user's emotional state to the general public. The user might be, for example, grieving the tragic passing of a loved one and might wish to express the user's feelings to the community. As another example, the user might also be coping with a seriously ill family member.

The jewelry system comprises a body member having plurality of emotional states displayed thereon. The body member might be a heart-shaped precious metal having a front side and a back side, for example. The emotional states may be engraved or etched on one side of the body member. Such emotional states might include shock, denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, depression, hope, survivor, shock, etc.

The jewelry system further includes a means for selecting any one of said plurality of emotional states to express the user's emotional state to the general public. Such a means might be a bead of acknowledgement system having a pin through which a smart bead is passed. The smart bead is slide-able along the pin to a position that shows the user's current emotional state.

In this manner, users can express to community members the users' particular situation and their particular state of grief. In turn, community members can understand and possibly offer their support.

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention herein may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the attached drawings. Further features and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with respect to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a front view of a jewelry system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B shows an alternate front view of the jewelry system of FIG. 1A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a back surface of the jewelry system of FIG. 1A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates a bead of acknowledgement system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B illustrates a smart bead utilized in the bead of acknowledgement system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates an affected person charm and a cause of grief charm according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of a jewelry system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5B shows a back view of the jewelry system of FIG. 5A according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate jewelry system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7A shows a front view of a jewelry system according to an exemplary embodiment of the of jewelry system.

FIG. 7B shows a back view of the jewelry system of FIG. 7A according to an exemplary embodiment of the of jewelry system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents, which may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present invention.

FIG. 1A shows a front view of jewelry system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1A, jewelry system 100 can be utilized to express a user's emotion to the community or general public at large. Here, the user 102 might be a griever grieving for the illness or the loss of a family member; and may wish to express grieving emotions relating to the illness or the loss of a family member.

As shown in FIG. 1A, jewelry system 100 comprises a unitarily-formed body member 104. Body member 104 is generally non-planar and three dimensional. That is, jewelry system 100 can be defined as having length, breadth and depth dimensions. Front surface 506 also includes one or more decorative designs 507 shown therein.

Jewelry system 100 can be any desirably shape. In this embodiment, body member 104 is heart-shaped and is formed preferably by casting, although other comparable processes namely sintering, forging or other the like can be employed. Body member 104 can be any jewelry type material or metal such as silver, stainless steel, platinum and other precious type metals. Dimensions are typical jewelry dimensions such that body member 104 remains visible by the general public.

Here, body member 104 includes front surface 106 that is oppositely disposed to back surface 206 (FIG. 2). When in use, back surface 206 rests on user 102 while front surface 106 rests away from the user's person; thus, front surface 106 is viewable by the general public. As such, front surface 106 can include attractive and decorative designs such as floral design 107. Note, however, that body member 104 can also be worn such that front surface 106 rests on user 102 while back surface 206 is away from the user's person.

As shown, jewelry system 100 is shown as a brooch or pendant. Although not shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will realize that other embodiments consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention can be utilized. As another example, jewelry system 100 might be a lapel pin, belt, bracelet, pendant, etc. adapted for use by user 102.

FIG. 1B shows an alternate front surface 106 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1B, front surface 106 incorporates image 109 of a loved one or affected person. Of course, other images consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention may be incorporated.

FIG. 2 shows back surface 206 of jewelry system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, back surface 206 includes a plurality of emotional states or grief stages. Each grief stage is preferably engraved, etched or embodied using any known methods consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention.

As shown, the grief stages are listed in order of occurrence below each other. Here, the first grief stage is shock 208. The next grief stage is denial 210 (below shock 208). Denial 210 is followed by bargaining 212. Bargaining 212 is followed by anger 214, guilt 216, depression 218, hope 220, and finally survivor 222. The emotional states shown are not exhaustive. Other emotional states consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention can be displayed.

Back surface 206 also comprises a means for selecting any one of the plurality of emotional states. Specifically, said means is bead of acknowledgment system 224. Bead of acknowledgment system 224 comprises pin 226 and smart bead 228. A smart bead has a silicone lining through its aperture (FIG. 3B). The silicone allows the smart bead to clutch onto pin 226. In this manner, smart bead 228 is maneuverable along pin 226 and remains in place when positioned by user 102. User 102 can move smart bead 228 upwards and downwards along pin 226 according to the user's current emotional state. Pin 226 is itself incorporated at its proximal end 232 and its distal end 234 into a contiguous groove or channel 230.

As shown, bead acknowledgment system 224 and the emotional states are adjacent and contiguous with each other; channel 230 is substantially straight, running parallel to the emotional states. This is but an example of an arrangement of channel 230 and the emotional states. Although not shown, channel 230 might be circular, around which the emotional states are arranged.

In operation, user 102 wishing to utilize the present invention begins by grasping jewelry system 100 in the palm of one hand. Here, if user 102 is unfamiliar with the various grief stages, user 102 can slide smart bead 228 along pin 226 to study each of the various stages. In this manner, the present invention can assist users to become aware of the various grief stages and at what stage they might possibly be.

As an example, the grief stage being experienced by user 102 might be shock 208. User 102 might be uncommunicative and not realize that he or she is in a state of shock. By studying the various grief stages as disclosed by the present invention, user 102 can realize not only which particular grief stage is being experienced but also that each particular stage is transitory. User 102 can then be assured that any stage no matter how debilitating will pass.

In this manner, as user 102 progresses through the various grief stages, the present invention can assist users of jewelry system 100 to identify through awareness what stage they are in. Jewelry system 100 can help users validate their feelings that it is normal and necessary to go through various grief stages. As user 102 progresses through each grief stage, user 102 feels a sense of achievement because there is a tangible and concrete way to acknowledge the passage of each stage.

Once user 102 has identified the appropriate grief stage, user 102 slides smart bead 228 to the identified grief stage. Thereafter, user 102 can then attach jewelry system 100 to the user's clothing. In the case of a brooch embodiment, jewelry system 100 can be attachable via a safety pin (not shown) attached to the upper portion of the jewelry system.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the grief stage being experienced by user 102 is hope 220. The general public becomes aware that user 102 is experiencing hope. The letters for the grief stages are such that they can be viewed by the general public or community no more than a few yards from user 102. In this manner, users can express to community members the users' particular situation and their grief stage. In turn, community members can understand user 102 and possibly offer support. Opportunities flourish when people and the community find out that user 102 is grieving. Conversations are started and they come easily and naturally with questions like, “How old is your son?” and “Oh, my sister has cancer too” or “My thoughts and prayers are with you.”

After the appropriate grief stage is determined, user 102 can now attach one or more detachable charms namely affected loved one charm 140 and/or cause of grief charm 142 to aperture 111 of jewelry system 100. User 102 has the option to attach one or more charms. Affected loved one charm 140 allows user 102 to specify the individual for whom grief is being expressed. The loved ones that can be specified on affected loved one charm 140 include self, husband, wife, son, daughter, friend, mother 440 (FIG. 4), etc.

Cause of grief charm 142 allows user 102 to indicate the reason for such grief. The available options are brain disease, passed away, cancer, accident, suicide, breast cancer 442 (FIG. 4), etc. One of ordinary skill in the art will realize that other causes of grief consistent with the spirit and scope of the present invention can be specified. For example, suicide, divorce, diabetes, AIDS, heart disease, or violence can also be specified.

Since it is an extremely personal decision to share such information user 102 might feel that expression of such information is too private. In that case user 102 might decide to wear only affected loved one charm 140 or cause of grief charm 142. In fact, user 102 might decide not to wear either charm. In that case only body member 104 is worn. It is noted that both charms can be attached using a clasp or hook type mechanism, and are attached to body member 104 so as to permit sliding of the smart bead.

FIG. 3A illustrates bead of acknowledgement system 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3A, bead of acknowledgement system 300 comprises pin 326 through which smart bead 305 is inserted. Each bead has an interior lining or aperture 327 (FIG. 3 b) that contains silicone. In this manner, smart bead 305 is slide-able on and can clutch pin 326 after each smart bead is positioned.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate affected person charm 440 and cause of grief charm 442 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 4, affected person charm 440 indicates that the affected person is a mother; and cause of grief charm 442 shows that the cause of grief is breast cancer 442. One skilled in the art will realize that other affected persons can be indicated on affected person charm 440 and other causes of grief can be shown on cause of grief charm 442.

FIG. 5A illustrates a front view of jewelry system 500 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 5A, unlike the embodiment of FIG. 1A, front surface 506 of jewelry system 500 is planar or two-dimensional. Front surface 506 is otherwise similar to front surface 106 described with reference to FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5B shows a back view of jewelry system 500 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 5B, back surface 506A includes the plurality of emotional states namely shock, denial, bargaining, anger, guilt, depression, hope and survivor. Back surface 506A also includes a similar type bead of acknowledgement system described with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate jewelry system 600 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, front surface 606 is transparent so that the plurality of emotional states are visible through the front surface. In this case, bead of acknowledgement system 224 is replaced by pin and socket system 613. Pin and socket system 613 includes pin 615 that can be withdrawn and inserted into each one of a plurality of sockets 617. Each socket 617 has a corresponding emotional state 224. When the appropriate grief stage is identified, pin 615 is inserted into the corresponding socket 617 for the identified grief stage. In FIG. 6, for example, pin 615 as shown corresponds to denial 610.

FIG. 7A shows a front view of jewelry system 700 according to an exemplary embodiment of the of jewelry system.

In FIG. 7A, jewelry system 700 can be utilized on a bracelet as shown. Here, the word “Mother” 701 etched thereon indicates that user 102 is grieving. On the back surface and oppositely disposed to “Mother” 701 are a plurality of emotional states 703 (FIG. 7B) and bead of acknowledgement system 224.

It is thus apparent that the present invention has many advantages not hereinbefore observed in the prior art: (1) the jewelry system of the present invention promotes connectivity and acknowledgment so that grievers and other users can increase their likelihood of connecting with others and receiving support from others in the community; (2) the jewelry system can promote learning of the grief stages through awareness and allow users' feelings to become validated as part of the normal grieving process; and (3) the jewelry system allows users to select and display the grief stage they are in and consciously accept and honor their feelings.

The jewelry system (4) also provides a tangible and concrete way to mark a milestone through a user's progression; (5) the jewelry system is a connection point and is a tangible item that can be touched to provide a sense of peace; (6) jewelry system 100 encourages support so that users can feel that they are not alone; and (7) once survivorship is achieved users can wear the jewelry system to commemorate and honor the experience for many years as a tribute to oneself or to loved ones.

The jewelry system of the present invention can also provide community benefits namely (1) allowing the community to recognize those directly in their midst who are suffering through grief; (2) enabling the community to choose to become involved and provide encouragement and support through a smile, a kind word, encouragement, prayer or other meaningful gestures; (3) allowing users the choice to wear a cause of grief charm such that the public can become aware that users are grieving and to possibly share experiences; (4) providing a deeper sense of appreciation and meaning because community members can reflect on their own lives and become more appreciative for the health and well being of their loved ones.

While the above is a complete description of exemplary specific embodiments of the present invention, additional embodiments are also possible. Thus, the above description should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents. 

1. A jewelry system for indicating a user's emotional state, said jewelry system comprising: a body member having plurality of emotional states displayed thereon; and a means for selecting any one of said plurality of emotional states, said selected emotional state expressing the user's emotional state to the general public.
 2. The jewelry system of claim 1 wherein said emotional states are selected from the group consisting essentially of shock, denial, bargaining, guilt, anger, depression, hope, survivor and shock.
 3. The jewelry system of claim 1 wherein said means for selecting is a smart bead having a silicone insert.
 4. The jewelry system of claim 1 wherein said means for selecting is a pin and socket system.
 5. The jewelry system of claim 3 wherein said smart bead is movable along a pin.
 6. The jewelry system of claim 5 wherein said pin is incorporated into a channel adjacent to said plurality of emotional states.
 7. The jewelry system of claim 1 wherein said body member is generally planar.
 8. The jewelry system of claim 1 wherein said body member is generally non-planar.
 9. The jewelry system of claim 1 further comprising a first detachable member that is detachably coupled to said body member, wherein said first detachable member indicates thereon a loved one for whom emotion is being displayed.
 10. The jewelry system of claim 1 further comprising a second detachable member different from a first detachable member, said second detachable member being detachably coupled to the body member, wherein said second detachable member indicates thereon a cause of grief on its face.
 11. The jewelry system of claim 1 wherein said body member further comprises a frame for receiving an image of an affected loved one.
 12. An ornament wearable by a user, said ornament comprising: a first portion displaying a plurality of user-related information that said user wishes to convey to a general public; and a means for selecting any one of said plurality of user-related information for indication to said general public.
 13. The ornament of claim 12 wherein said means for selecting is a smart bead that is slide-able along a pin.
 14. The ornament of claim 13 wherein said user-related information is engraved on a face of said first portion.
 15. A method for expressing a user's emotional state, said method comprising: displaying a plurality of emotional states engraved on an ornamental piece wearable by a user; and selecting any one of said plurality of emotional states, said selected emotional state indicating the user's emotional state to the general public.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising using a smart bead that is slide-able along a pin for selecting any one of said plurality of emotional states. 